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Regulators

Regulators for compressed air.

Compressed air regulators are necessary in compressed air applications for a number of reasons.

If the details below don't provide sufficient information for you, feel free to ask a question about compressed air regulators via the form at the bottom of this page.

’Compressed
Your compressor's cut out pressure may be at 150 PSI or even higher. Not too many air-using applications require a compressed air supply at that pressure level, so you would use an air regulator to reduce the downstream air pressure to the desired level.

What they do?


Regulators are devices that are used to change the pressure coming from the compressor receiver in all, or just part of, a downstream compressed air system, depending on where you install them.

For example, you can have the main air regulator (the one at the compressor tank) set for 120 PSI (30 PSI less than your tank pressure) and used the 120 PSI to feed the air main.

Then, at each application where compressed air is to be used, you can install another air regulator to further reduce the air pressure to the right level for just that application.

Unidirectional


Compressed air is normally meant to travel through an air regulator in one direction only. That direction is commonly shown somewhere on the unit with an arrow.

The regulator will usually have an air gauge which visibly indicates the air pressure on the downstream side of the unit, and usually displaying the set point that was dialed in with the adjusting knob or nut.

How They Work


’Compressed
For the sake of simplicity, I have not included a gauge in the drawing above, nor have I included the detail of the actual internals of a regulator which are more complex than shown.

The inner components of a regulator act very quickly, increasing or decreasing the flow so that the downstream pressure remains fairly constant. The accuracy of pressure downstream is directly related to the quality of the regulator.

Regulators Only Lower Pressure


Regulators in compressed air systems can only lower the pressure.

Dialing the pressure up past the supply line pressure can not increase the downstream pressure past the supply pressure level, despite how many times you turn the knob!

Compressed air is a fluid. Pressure exerted at any one point in the closed system will be transmitted equally throughout the entire system.

Pulse Dampeners


Each time your compressor cycles on, whether “kicking in” due to low receiver pressure or the cycling of the pilot unloader valve on a continuous run compressor, it starts building pressure in the system receiver and lines again, and that sudden increase in pressure will generate a pressure-pulse in the compressed air throughout all your lines in the plant. This may be negative to the application.

Having a receiver will dampen the pulse somewhat, but not entirely.

If the set points on your compressor are 120 PSI on the high side, and 100 PSI on the low side, and you set your pressure regulator for 90 PSI going into your application, in theory that application should never see a pressure fluctuation, regardless of how many times the compressor kicks in or out. This has benefits in terms of regular cycling of actuators etc.

The exception to this will be if the demand for compressed air outstrips the ability of the compressor to supply it. When this occurs, the available air pressure will continue to fall past the regulator setting, and the air supply in the lines to the application will, too, see the pressure start to fall. When demand stops, air pressure will start to build, and a pressure-pulse can occur in the lines until the pressure is up past the regulator set point.



Save Money


Another benefit of a regulator, and why you'd want many throughout the system, is that by adjusting the pressure down to the lowest functioning level at each air-using application, you can save many dollars in compressed air generation cost.

It is not common knowledge, but it is fact, that as an energy source, compressed air one of the most expensive.

Relieving / Non-Relieving


Regulators can be relieving or non-relieving, depending on your application.

If you were regulating the pressure of a noxious or expensive gas, you'd select a non-relieving unit to prevent off-gassing of that poisonous gas into the plant atmosphere through the regulator.

Most industrial systems use a relieving regulator, which means that if the downstream pressure exceeded the pressure setting on the regulator, then the higher downstream pressure would be allowed to vent or 'relieve' to the atmosphere back through the regulator.

Types


General purpose regulators can be expected to maintain a pressure level within plus or minus 2-5 PSI range on average.

Precision regulators can usually hold a line pressure within plus or minus 1/2 - 1 1/2 PSI of the set point.

Larger pressure regulators can be air-piloted and slaved to smaller, remotely installed, regulators.

’Regulator
Regulators can be supplied with accessories such as locks, with or without gauges, are available in an electronic form and in a host of configurations.

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Other questions and answers...

See below for other questions and answers...




Air compressor regulator  starstarstarstarstar
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Bill ...

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Bill says...

The cut in ...

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Another question Bill
When a pressure regulator is used to adjust air pressure, does that also adjust the air velocity?



Bill answers...

Howdy!...

How to set up a regulator.  Not rated yet
A regulator is a device that is used to change the pressure in the air line downstream from itself.

If the pressure coming into the regulator from the ...





Did you know that...

"Optimization of compressed air systems can provide energy efficiency improvements of 20 to 50 percent."

Source: http://www.eere.energy.gov


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